Going Beyond The Airport

After an extensive RFP (request for proposal) process, the state Department of Transportation (DOT) selected SpeediShuttle to operate the exclusive, fiveyear concession for ondemand shuttle service for passengers arriving at Honolulu International Airport.

SpeediShuttle’s core business has been airport sharedride shuttle service since its inception in 1999, and we currently operate on four islands. Viewing this as a tremendous opportunity to expand our business on Oahu, we developed our proposal with an eye toward creating an entirely new vision for the airport shuttle service one that involved a strong “sense of Hawaiian place.” This was key to our strategy, and I believe it struck a strong chord with DOT, providing upgraded vehicles, greeters in aloha wear and utilizing the latest technology. Additionally, I credit our company’s core area of expertise, experience, proprietary technology and the proven high service standards of our statewide team of more than 250 employees.

We also went beyond the requested service to take passengers only to Waikiki and Aloha Tower. Going beyond what the customer asked for and expected was a strategy in winning DOT’s business. We thought: Why not offer a door-to-door service to virtually all points on Oahu? Currently, we are serving three of eight zones that stretch from Kapolei to Kahala; and beginning Jan. 1, we will service substantially the entire island of Oahu. We also recommended curbside pickup for passengers in our Mercedes Benz Sprinters with a guaranteed departure within 20 minutes of boarding.

Technology also played a role in the selection. We have stationed boarding pass kiosks at strategic locations throughout the terminals, and our greeters issue boarding passes with tablet PCs. All our Sprinters have onboard complimentary WiFi service accommodating email and Web needs.

Our data indicate that there are in excess of 300,000 arrival seats per year serviced from the airport to Waikiki and to Aloha Tower, and we believe that these numbers will continue to grow, especially as people realize they can be transported straight to their homes or offices.

In addition to the ondemand service for arriving passengers, we are looking forward to expanding our pre-arranged airport shuttle service so that Oahu residents can book their trips to and from the airport without the need to bother friends or family for a ride or to pay for airport parking. On Jan. 1 we hope to see our business soaring from all points on Oahu as the word spreads about this convenient, comfortable shared-ride service. Of course, individual sedan or limousine service also is available through our Arthur’s Limousine Hawai’i brand.